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Choice In Video Games. Ricardo Iván Corral Terrazas (42406455) [email protected] Supervisor: Dr. Michael Hitchens June 13 th , 2012. Agenda. Project Introduction Background Video Game And Game D esign B asics About Ontologies - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Choice In Video GamesRicardo Iván Corral Terrazas (42406455)[email protected]: Dr. Michael Hitchens
June 13th, 2012
Agenda
Project Introduction
Background Video Game And Game Design Basics About Ontologies
What Is Choice? Defining The Term
An Ontological Model For Choice
Findings And Usability Of The Model
Conclusions And Future Work
2
Ricardo I Corral Terrazas (42406455) | Choice In Video Games
Agenda
Project Introduction
Background Video Game And Game Design Basics About Ontologies
What Is Choice? Defining The Term
An Ontological Model For Choice
Findings And Usability Of The Model
Conclusions And Future Work
3
Ricardo I Corral Terrazas (42406455) | Choice In Video Games
The Problem
“Game design is about designing choices” - James Portnow, game
designer
What is choice? No universal definition Lack of a framework to design choice
How well do we understand game design if we don’t understand choice completely?
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Ricardo I Corral Terrazas (42406455) | Choice In Video Games
Project Aims
Develop an ontological model to represent the types and scopes of choices Open-ended Flexible
Unify the isolated notions of choice into an accurate, concise definition
Apply the model to existing games
Propose uses for the model
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Ricardo I Corral Terrazas (42406455) | Choice In Video Games
Agenda
Project Introduction
Background Video Game And Game Design Basics About Ontologies
What Is Choice? Defining The Term
An Ontological Model For Choice
Findings And Usability Of The Model
Conclusions And Future Work
6
Ricardo I Corral Terrazas (42406455) | Choice In Video Games
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72% of American households play computer games
Lots of money involved
Source: The NPD Group/Games Industry: Total Consumer Spend
Ricardo I Corral Terrazas (42406455) | Choice In Video Games
Background:Video Games Are Important
Background:Video Game Concepts
4 elements define video games: Play Pretending Goal Rules
Play determines interactivity; rules define gameplay
Gameplay consists of challenges and actions
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Ricardo I Corral Terrazas (42406455) | Choice In Video Games
To create gameplay, designers outlinetwo components: Core Mechanics User Interface
Game design process: Concept stage Development stage Tuning stage
Communication is vital
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Ricardo I Corral Terrazas (42406455) | Choice In Video Games
Background:Game Design 101
Agenda
Project Introduction
Background Video Game And Game Design Basics About Ontologies
What Is Choice? Defining The Term
An Ontological Model For Choice
Findings And Usability Of The Model
Conclusions And Future Work
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Ricardo I Corral Terrazas (42406455) | Choice In Video Games
Background:About OntologiesAn ontology is an explicit specification of a
shared conceptualisation
Benefits of using ontologies: Share common understanding of information Enable reuse of knowledge Make domain assumptions explicit
General steps to develop an ontology:1. Define classes2. Arrange classes in a taxonomic hierarchy3. Define slots, describing their allowed values
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Ricardo I Corral Terrazas (42406455) | Choice In Video Games
Agenda
Project Introduction
Background Video Game And Game Design Basics About Ontologies
What Is Choice? Defining The Term
An Ontological Model For Choice
Findings And Usability Of The Model
Conclusions And Future Work
12
Ricardo I Corral Terrazas (42406455) | Choice In Video Games
Choice As Found In Literature
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Ricardo I Corral Terrazas (42406455) | Choice In Video Games
Choice Defined
A choice is a possibility offered by the video game, which allows the player to perform actions that adhere to the rules as prescribed in the programmed code. To carry out such actions is the decision of the player, and the video game system should reflect them within the state of the virtual world
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Ricardo I Corral Terrazas (42406455) | Choice In Video Games
Agenda
Project Introduction
Background Video Game And Game Design Basics About Ontologies
What Is Choice? Defining The Term
An Ontological Model For Choice
Findings And Usability Of The Model
Conclusions And Future Work
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Ricardo I Corral Terrazas (42406455) | Choice In Video Games
Model Overview (1/2)
Ontological, open-ended model
Aimed for a systematic categorisation of choice
Model consist of: 3 metacategories 11 dimensions 30+ classes
Black-box analysis
Used Grounded theory method
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Ricardo I Corral Terrazas (42406455) | Choice In Video Games
Model Overview (2/2)Metacategories
1. Choice regarding player-controlled entities Means for terrain exploration Terrain alteration Avatar appearance Combat Player controllable units
2. Choice regarding virtual world Terrain exploration availability Objects Quests/Missions Non-playable character interaction Morality
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Ricardo I Corral Terrazas (42406455) | Choice In Video Games
3. Choice regarding other gameplay mechanics
Savability
Example: Terrain Exploration Availability
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Ricardo I Corral Terrazas (42406455) | Choice In Video Games
Condensed Ontological Model
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Ricardo I Corral Terrazas (42406455) | Choice In Video Games
Agenda
Project Introduction
Background Video Game And Game Design Basics About Ontologies
What Is Choice? Defining The Term
An Ontological Model For Choice
Findings And Usability Of The Model
Conclusions And Future Work
20
Ricardo I Corral Terrazas (42406455) | Choice In Video Games
Applicability Of The Model (1/2)Applied model to 7 different games, including:
Open-world game Shooter game Platformer/Action game
Different types of games present different types of choices to the player
Coincidences in the offered choices helps to identify when differences in a game are of a qualitative nature
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Ricardo I Corral Terrazas (42406455) | Choice In Video Games
Open-world game (GTA IV)
Shooter game (Gears of War)
22Applicability Of The Model (2/2)
Platformer game (Mega Man X)
Usability Of The Model
Look at choice and its design systematically Understanding which choices are being offered to the player and
how they interact
Providing the designer with a knowledge base Communicate with precision (designer – programmer – artist)
Diagnosing game design problems When game is failing to deliver meaningful play, it usually comes
down to choice
Choice-based game classification
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Ricardo I Corral Terrazas (42406455) | Choice In Video Games
Agenda
Project Introduction
Background Video Game And Game Design Basics About Ontologies
What Is Choice? Defining The Term
An Ontological Model For Choice
Findings And Usability Of The Model
Conclusions And Future Work
24
Ricardo I Corral Terrazas (42406455) | Choice In Video Games
Conclusions And Future WorkAlthough paramount for game design, choice
has not been studied as it ought to
An honest attempt to contribute to the largely neglected video game field was made
The ontology could serve as the grammar that could make communication much easier
Iterations of the refinement process will go on as long as games exist
Include multiplayer and social choices in the model
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Ricardo I Corral Terrazas (42406455) | Choice In Video Games
Thank you.Questions ?
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